Mail-bag lock.



No. 866,317. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

H. WATT.

MAIL BAG LOOK. APPLICATION FILED mm: 17, 1am.

m: mmms PETERS cm, wasnmcnm, o. r:v

HUGH WATT, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

MAIL-BAG LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1'7, 1907.

Application filed June 17, 1907. Serial No. 379,404.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, H UGH WATT, a subject of the King of Great Britain,residing at 82 William street, Melbourne, in the State of Victoria,Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-BagLocks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has been devised to provide means for fastening the necksof mail bags and similar wallets or receptacles with mechanism whichwhile carrying the label of the place of destination will form a telltale or check against the fastening being tampered or interfered with.

In order that my invention may be the more easily understood referencemay be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is anelevation of mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 a section of theclosed or boxed portion of same, whileFigs. 3 and 4 are respectivelyfront and back end views of the said boxed portions.

In these drawings A is a loop constructed of leather or spring steel orother suitable material of sufficient dimensions to surround the neck ofthe mail bag for example and terminating at each end in an eyelet A saideyelets having through same on the one end a simple link A leading intoa specially constructed catch link B and from the other eyelet proceedsa link A The link A is of sufficient length to allow the catch link B tobe passed through same so that it may rest on top of the eyelet link AThe catch link B consists of a link of wire flat at its front portionthen descending at a right angle thereto for a short distance when oneof its downward members branches out to a right angle to the plane ofthe said link, that is to say the lower portion of the said catch link13 is at right angles to its upper portion. This catch link B is sizedto enter the check device box 0; the box is constructed preferably of aplate bent somewhat to the shape of a parallelogram about three and aquarter inches in length by about one and three-quarter inches in heightand about half an inch in width. In the top of this box 0 is placed abearing pin D forming the fulcrum of a lever E from the inner side ofwhich depends a connecting link or rod F centered by pin F and joiningat its bottom by a center bearingv pin G with two arms H and J setlever-wise upon pin fulcrnms H and J respectively and proceeding inopposite directions from one another the whole being so placed that whenthe top lever E is moved up or down the ends of these opposite levers Hand .I operate in the reverse direction. Referring to these two levers Hand J the front one H is formed at its end with a hook shaped curve Hand sized to enter into the catch link B hereinbefore mentioned, thelever being sufficiently long to proceed a slight distance outside theend of the box or casing 0 when the top or actuating lever E has beenraised. The back lever J is provided with a slightly elongatedperforation J at its fulcrum pin J to enable it to make good thedifferential radius brought about during its operation. Its end J iscurved upwardly and is sharpened with a knife edge and point so that inits radial movement from its top to its bottom position this knife leverJ performs a tearing and cutting function. Referring to the top oractuating lever E its front end is curved at its termination andprovided with a recess K in its upper surface to receive and be held bya hinged staple or hasp L the latter being free (when the lever E ispressed slightly down against the action of a spring) to be moved by theforefinger and thumb out of engagement with the said recess K in thelever E. A small spiral spring M is set in a circular corresponding boxlV and provided with a guide washer M on its top, upon which a lug pin Edepending from the end of the lever E may press so that the action ofthe spring M will keep the lever E upward against the hasp or staple Lwhen the latter is in the recess K. The other end of the actuating leverE terminates in an open eyelet E arranged to surround a depending bentwire arm N the latter being provided with a stop block N at its bottomand securely fastened at its top to a catch or bolt 0.

The bolt 0 is provided with a downward formation around which is set aspiral spring P exercising compressive force to keep the bolt 0 in anupward or locked direction. Suitable guide plates are arranged aroundsaid bolt 0 to keep the latter in its proper position.

Engaging with this bolt 0 is an extending plate R of a box shaped hingedend cap R the latter being hinged at its bottom R and so arranged thatwhen it is closed the bolt 0 hereinbefore mentioned locks the top R insuch a way that it cannot be released except by undoing the hasp orstaple L from its recess K upon the lever E and allowing the latter torelease the bolt 0 as, aforesaid.

Upon one side of the hinged end cap piece R are provided extended lugs Bso placed that when they are closed they fix in position a horizontallyhinged address plate S placed on one side of the box. This plate S mayhave either the address upon itself or act as an obscuring shutter ofthe address which is placed respectively either under or above itshinged linefor instance underneath the hinge line of the shutter theaddress To Melbourne may be written and above the said hinge line thewords To London may be written.

Referring again to the box shaped hinged end cap R the front face ofsame has a small sheet of glass R let in it and provision is made bywhich a small strip of paper or like material can be laid and held inposition in a recess T in the inner face of the box and in view from theglass plate.

In operating the invention the loop A is placed around the neck of themail bag or other like receptacle. The link A is then passed over thecatch link B, the latter is then passed on to the hook end H of thelever H the label plate S properly adjusted to show the direction it isintended the bag should go, the actuating lever E pressed down home andthe hasp or staple L passed over into the recess K in the said lever.. Asmall strip of paper acting as a seal is then placed in the recess at Tand the hinged cap R closed so that its catch portion R snaps over thelocking bolt 0.

The mail bag cannot be opened except by undoing the hasp L at the end ofthe lever E thus causing the knife I to cut the paper strip and soleaving the latter in a cut or torn condition to indicate that theapparatus or mail bag has been tampered with. The said strip of paperwill carry upon it the particular printed matter, check, numbers,letters, hieroglyphics or secret marks in use by the communicating postoffices.

To prevent the actuating lever E being accidentally disengaged from thehasp L by any rough handling which the mail bag or any other receptaclemight receive during transmission, I may attach to the bottom of theinside of the box 0 a small snib or catch F which is secured through aslot C in the bottom of the box 0 to a flat knob F on the outside. Oneend of the snib 1? is normally kept under the end of the connecting linkor rod F by the action of a spring F It will be seen that when the snibF is in this position the lever E cannot be pressed down and so releasedfrom the hasp L. To release the lever it is necessary to press back thesnib F from underneath the rod F and while it is held in this positionthe lever E can be disengaged as beiore.

I would have it understood that in lieu of the hinged label plate S orin addition thereto, I may have insert cards or labels to slip in aguideway arranged on box 0.

These latter will be used particularly when the device is to be employedWith mail bags or similar receptacles used for foreign mails.

I claim 1. In a fastening and label check device for mail bags andsimilar receptacles :In combination-A loop A having links B and A a boxor case C, a catch lever H, a seal cutting lever J, means for operatingthe said levers, a device to hold the seal, and an address plate,substarr tially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a fastening and label check device for mail bags and similarreceptacles :ln combination-A box or case C, a loop A having links B andA, a catch lever H, a

seal cutting lever J, means for operating the said levers, a

device for holding the seal, an address plate, said means for operatingthe levers H and .T consisting of an op erating lever E, connecting linkF and slot J and means for securing and retaining the lever E in aclosed position or for releasing same consisting of a hasp L, lug pin E,spring M and washer M substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a fastening and label check device for mail bags and similarreceptacles :In combination-A box or case C, a loop as A having links Band A a catch lever H, a seal cutting lever T, means for operating thesaid levers, a seal holder It having a catch extension piece R and lugsIt and in which is a transparent plate R a surrounding recess T, aspring catch bolt 0 having an arm N and stopper block N, an eyelet Eattached to the lever E and a hinged address plate S, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

4. In a fastening and label check device for mail bags and similarreceptacles :In con1binationA box or case C having thereon a snib orcatch F provided with a knob F and spring F, a loop A having links B andA, a catch lever H, a seal cutting lever J, means for operating the saidlevers, a seal holder It having a catch extension piece It and lugs Rand in which is a transparent plate R a surrounding recess T, a springcatch bolt 0 having an arm N and stopper block N, an eyelet E attachedto the lever E and a hinged address plate S, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to .this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUGH WATT.

Witnesses:

ALICE HARKER, HIDER SMITH.

